Deeper ReflectionPAUL ASKS THE THESSALONIANS TO PRAY FOR HIM THAT
“the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, as happened
among you” (v.1). The “as happened among you” is implied in Paul’s
second prayer request, that he “may be delivered from wicked and evil
men” (v.2). Paul’s second prayer request “may include more than Paul’s
request for his own mission; it may imply something for the readers
themselves as they pray for him”
40. The “wicked [out of place
41] and evil
men” were not those outside the church who opposed the faith, but
“those who profess belief and are part of the church community but
are ‘out of place’ because they are not genuine saints”
42. These people
appeared to “have faith”, but in reality, they did not (v.2). And such
people whom Paul encountered were also found present in the church in
Thessalonica – “as happened among you” (implied). In other words, Paul
is saying to the Thessalonians: “pray that we may be delivered from ‘out
of place’ and evil men [just as you need deliverance from such people],
for not everyone has faith.”
43In this context, Paul mentions “But the Lord is faithful” (v.3a)
immediately after verses 1 to 2 – as a contrast to human faithlessness (v.2).
It does happen that when “great” and well-known Christian leaders fall,
those who follow them are disappointed and leave the faith. Why leave
the faithful God because of human faithlessness? It’s incongruent! This
reveals that they are not following the faithful God but fallible human
leaders. If they are, they will remain faithful to the faithful God.
40 G. K. Beale, 243
41 See Devotional Journal 2022, October 21 entry
42 G. K. Beale, 239
43 G. K. Beale, 244
